Shoulder pad



S. SAMETH SHOULDER PAD Filed Feb. 28, 1947 INVENTOR. J/ 'dma/m Jay/ 17}A 7'TOR/VE V Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOULDERPAD Sigmund Sameth, New York, N. Y.

Application February 28, 1947, Serial No. 731,491

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a padded article and, moreparticularly, to a shoulder pad of the type used to build up theshoulders of a garment, or the like.

Shoulder pads of the character described, as at present obtained,generally comprise a shaped fabric covering containing a paddingmaterial therein, such as cotton, or the like. Such pads, particularlythose used on ladies dresses or blouses, which require frequent washingsor dry cleanings, have the great and generally recognized disadvantagesthat they must be removed before each washing for the reasons that whenwetted they will absorb great quantities of water and will not drycompletely for a long time, and will also get out of shape. Theirremoval and reattachment present a hardship, particularly to those whoare not skillful in needlework. Also, their inability to stand washingpresents a problem of cleanliness and sanitation, especially in warmweather or in warm climates.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to the provision. ofshoulder pads of the character described which overcome all of the abovedisadvantages and which possess many other advantages and superioritiesover similar articles heretofore used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide shoulder pads of thecharacter described which may be readily washed together with thegarment to which they are attached and need not be removed beforewashing.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide shoulder padsof the character described which are water impervious and will notabsorb any water and will, therefore, not lose their shapes as a resultof wetting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide shoulder padsof the character described which are water repellent and will,therefore, shed all moisture and will become dry even before the garmentitself.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide shoulderpads of the character described which it is easy to clean and to keepclean and free of perspiration or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shoulderpad of the character described which is light of Weight and comfortableand convenient to wear.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provideshoulder pads of the character described which are easy and convenientto attach to a garment even for one not skillful at needlework.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide shoulderpads of the character described which may be easily and rapidlymanufactured from readily available and low cost ma: terials and whichmay be made by mass production methods, with a minimum of manual labor,and which are, therefore, economical to produce and use.

Generally stated, the objects of the present in: vention are attained.by providing a shoulder pad having an outer coverin of a waterimpervious material which is hermetically sealed to prevent seepage ofwater or moisture into the interior thereof. a

Greater details of the construction of theshoule der pads of the presentinvention as well as additional advantages and superiorities thereofwill become more readily apparent from the embodiment thereof shown inthe accompanying drawing and from the description following. It is to beunderstood, however, that such embodiment is shown by way ofillustration only, to make the principles and practice of the inventionmore readily comprehensible to those skilled in the art, and without anyintent of limiting the invention to the specific details thereof shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a shoulder pad of thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 isa top plan view of the same; Y

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;. and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the shoulderpad of the present invention may comprise an outer cover or pocket,generally designated as It, which may consist of a plurality ofsections, such as the top section, II, and the bottom section, 12. Thesections II and I2 may be integral or separate.

The sections H and I2 may be formed of one or more sheets of waterimpervious or water shedding or repelling material, preferably of aflexible character and slightly elastic. Particularly suitable materialsfor the purpose are synthetic plastics, either of the thermoplastic typeor of the thermosetting type, and preferably such as will haveconsiderable heat resistance and will readily stand the heat that isattained in steam pressing of garments. Among such plastic and othermaterials may be mentioned polyvinyl chloride and other polyvinylplastics, silicon rubber and natural and synthetic rubber.

The sections I I and I2, may, if desired, be preshaped, as illustrated,and the lower or under section, [2, may also be made of a thicker orstiffer variety of the material, to insure the retention of the desiredshape of the finished article, as will hereinafter become clear.

The cover sections, I I and 12, are so preshaped that when they arearranged in proper position over one another, there is a space, [3,between them, forming a pocket for padding or batting material .or other.material which will tend to keep the fsectionsl in: spaced andseparated relation.

To render the outer cover In hermetically sealed against the seepage ofwater into the space l3, the sections II and I 2 are superposed withtheir respective edges [4 and I5 placed flat and parallel to one anotherand extending outwardly. The sections I l and I2 are thensecuredmr-bonded hermetically to one another along the said edges.

When the sections H and I2 are formed "of a hermoplastic material, suchas of sheets of polyvinyl chloride or'the like, "the edges "F4 and 15maybe welded 'or bonded together 'or'fused by the application of'h'eatfisuch'asby electrically induced heatfforming-"a strong and secureunion between the edges.

'Where'thermosettirig plastic material is used, such as silicon rubber,asuitable cement may be employed to bond the edges hermetically'to oneanother.

The' bondede'dges may be of substantial width, to provi'de' a'suificien'tlywidefflatmarginal edge in which maybeformed a pluralityo'f-apertures, I 'foruse in stitching or otherwise securing the pad tothe garment or for receiving other attachin'g'mea'nsthereon. Preferably,such apertures ILor-Other-attaching means maybe formed at the severalcorners="of" the article, as illustrated.

The space 13, between the sections H and 12, may be 'fille'd withtheconventional padding material, or, because ofthe imperviousness of thematerial described as suitablefor use, which will not permit any fibresto penetrate'therethrough to the exterior, glass wool'may beused'forthe'padding. Preferably, however,the-shoulder pad may bepneumaticf-being filled with airor gasunder proper pressure. Sucha-ir'or gas maybe introduced into the pocket l3, in the process ofassembly, by inserting therein a predetermined amount ofthe same, eitherin liquefiedor solidified form, as-solid or liquid carbon dioxide,immediately before-sealing the-same, or it"may be introduced in anyother manner that might suggest itself to those skilled the art.

it will be readily apparent that the' 'shoulder pads of the presentinvention may be' rea'tiily' and conveniently "laundered, without dangerof delayed drying or distortion from moistening and drying,andgtherefore, without need-for removal and replacement for eachlaundering or dry cleaning.

It will also be readily apparent that the shoulder pads of the presentinvention are sanitary; are light and comfortable to wear; areeconomical to produce by mass production methods; and are easy andconvenient to use.

This completes the description of one embodiment ofithe shoulder padsvof -the invention. Since it isiobvious thatmany variations andmodifications thereof may be made by anyone skilled in the art, inaccordance with the principles of the -invention and without the use or"any inventive inrgenuity, I desire to be protected for all suchmodifications and variations that may be made within the spirit o'ftheinvention and of the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What .I claim is:

"1. A shoulder pad of the character described, comprising a coveringconsisting of a plurality of sections ofia synthetic plastic materialpresh'aped to "forma pocket-of predetermined outline and capacity, saidsections arranged to have their edges parallel to one another andextending outwardly'toform aflange, said edges bonde'dto one anotheralong their entire length to hermetically seal-said pocket, paddingmaterial within said pocket and means on said flange whereby saidshoulder pad may be secured to a garment.

'2. A shoulder pad of the character described consisting of a coveringcomprising a plurality-oi sections of water impervious synthetic plasticmaterial preshaped to form a pocket of predeterminedputline andcapacity, said sections arranged to'have their edges parallel to oneanother and extending outwardly to form a flange, said edges bonded toone another along their 'entire length to hermetically seal the saidpocket, a'gaseous material under pressure within the said pocket toinflate the same and means on the said flange whereby said shoulder padmay be secured to a garment.

SIGMUN'D SAMETH.

REFERENCES CITED The -following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date "2,304,699 Levy Dec. 8, 19422,400,210 Royce May 14, 1946 2,458,646 Root Jan. 11, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 434,771 Great Britain Sept. 9, 1935

